Néstor Lorenzo, the coach who says goodbye to Melgar making history locally and internationally

Arequipa, that town at the foot of a volcano, suffered a seismic movement in the last few hours: Nestor Lawrencethe coach of Melgar, accepted the proposal of the Colombian National Team to direct their destinies in the next qualifying process, so this Wednesday they will say goodbye to the red and black fan in Arequipa. Against Deportivo Cali it will be his last game and he wants to leave, leaving the Arequipeños in the quarterfinals of the South American.

Of course, the news of the Argentine has weighed on Colombians to bet on him. Melgar It fully complies with excelling on both fronts: in the local tournament and at the international level. Melgar was the leader in the Apertura and in the group stage of the Sudamericana he had the luxury of eliminating Racing Club de Avellaneda in the first round.

Today, Melgar has already won the first tournament of League 1 and has an advantage to advance to the quarterfinals of the continental tournament. Néstor Lorenzo was presented in Colombia, but he never stopped thinking about his work with Melgar.

But it has not been the only thing that has entered the consideration of Colombian leaders. In fact, Nestor Lawrence he is an acquaintance of the house. He was part of the technical command of José Néstor Pékerman that took Colombia to the quarterfinals in Brazil 2014 and to the round of 16 in Russia 2018. Milestones that have remained in the memory of the northern country.

. He was also his technical assistant in the Argentine National Team from 2004 to 2006. They were also together in Mexico, in charge of Toluca and Tigres. He was his friend, his pupil and his protégé. Lorenzo was the first person Pékerman turned to see when he had a question or a query. The Argentine coach was not going anywhere without Néstor and on many occasions Lorenzo was the one who came out to testify on behalf of the technical team.

Of course, being a bishop is not the same as being the king. That is why Lorenzo is a bet in Colombia. Especially after disappointments such as those of the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz and Reinaldo Rueda himself.

In the 2021 when Pékerman decided to go to Venezuela, Nestor Lawrence He made a difficult decision: to enter as a head coach. With the support of his mentor, our country arrived to take charge of the Arequipa team. And as we have seen, it was not bad. Rather he was excellent.

As a player, Lorenzo is an illustrious unknown: he played in the final of the Italia 90 World Cup against the Germans. He was a stronghold in the Argentine midfield. A bolt as far as he could, next to Peter Troglio, former University of Sports coach. Partner of Diego Armando Maradona and of Jorge Burruchaga in that team that attempted the two-time world championship with Carlos Salvador Bilardo. Lorenzo played for Bari in Italy, Swindon Town in England, as well as for Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors.

Obviously, in Melgar They went to work looking for a good replacement. The first name associated with the rojinegros was undoubtedly Juan Reynoso, who made them champion of Peruvian soccer in 2015 after 34 years of drought. The ‘Cabezón’ was recently fired from Cruz Azul despite achieving a similar feat: he led them to the Mexican League title for the first time in 23 years.

However, the decision was announced this Sunday after winning the Opening Tournament. The one who sits on the Arequipa bench will be the Argentine Pablo Hernán Lavellén, who comes from directing Olimpia de Honduras and who has in his CV having reached the final of the South American in 2019 with Colón de Santa Fe.

There are expectations in Arequipa, but first Néstor Lorenzo must close the cycle this Wednesday, and hopefully it will be with a new international victory.